Oyster

Pleurotus ostreatus

Also called: Oyster Mushroom, Pearl Oyster, Tree Oyster, Hiratake

Overview

Saprotroph on dead and dying hardwood — beech, maple, elm, poplar. May weakly parasitize very stressed living trees but primarily decomposes deadwood.

Edibility

Edible

Rarity

common

Trophic mode

saprotrophic

Typical peak

Oct–Nov

Season

Mar–May & Oct–Dec — typical fruiting months: Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct, Nov.

Host trees & substrate

Dead beech
Maple
Oak
Poplar logs

Where it grows

Appalachian Highlands
Northeast
Southeast Coastal Plain
Great Plains
Texas
Rocky Mountains
Upper Midwest / Great Lakes
Desert Southwest
Sierra Nevada & Nor-Cal
Pacific Northwest
UK & Ireland
Central European Mixed Forest

See live fruiting predictions for Oyster on the forecast home page, or browse the full field guide.

Always confirm wild-mushroom identification with multiple sources and a knowledgeable local expert before consuming. Read the foraging safety guide.